Matchstick Men
User Score
7.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 62 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 62
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 62
  3. Negative: 7 out of 62

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  1. Jake
    Feb 5, 2007
    9
    Cage is great in this film. He plays the part extremly well. It is a very humorous movie with a great story. Rockwell and Lohman were great for the roles that they played. They gelled very well with Cage.
  2. HenryS
    Aug 15, 2009
    9
    This is quite an amazing movie, mainly because Alison Lohman's performance was enough to knock anyone off their seats, I still have a hard time believing she was really 23 then! and the end is indeed original, loved it all.
  3. marshman88
    Nov 23, 2005
    9
    It was really good. i'd definately watch it again. Grade: 9.1
  4. ChadS.
    Sep 24, 2003
    9
    Even if you're savvy to "The Spanish Prisoner" echo, there's still a lot to admire here. Alison Lohman, at 24, plays 14 without any accidental lolita underpinnings. Angela seems more informed by Marsha Brady than Britney Spears. The "intricate" plot is for the naifs, but the performances by Lohman and Nicolas Cage(welcome back, Sean Penn was right, fella) are undeniably strong, so you can't pan the film based only on your ability to figure stuff out. "Matchstick Men" would still be a successful film without the ongoing confidence game. … Expand
  5. [Anonymous]
    Sep 14, 2003
    10
    I felt betrayed at the end of the movie. But that's what you're suppose to feel. Nicholas Cage is very funny and this is an unbelievably interesting movie.
  6. JerryT.
    Sep 14, 2003
    9
    This is a very good movie. It has a VERY suprising ending. Only a handful of movies are movies that you can not predict. I could not predict a thing about this movie. GO WATCH IT YOU FOOLS! oh and its a 9 out of 10 because the movie had an ending i didn't predict.
  7. NickV.
    Sep 29, 2003
    9
    How do u not like this movie, you must have it confused with another one.
  8. SeanS.
    Nov 23, 2003
    10
    Truly a masterpiece!
  9. Paul
    Feb 7, 2004
    10
    THE MOVIE ROCKS.....nicolas cage is great...reminds me of a not-quite-as -good oceans eleven....get this movie when it comes out on dvd.
  10. BennettM.
    Mar 21, 2004
    9
    Another Cage classic, this movie is a funny and smart flick with more twists than a twizzler.
  11. FernandoG.
    Mar 14, 2004
    10
    Alison Lohman is the best part of the movie.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
61 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 38
  3. Negative: 2 out of 38
  1. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Peter Rainer
    50
    The movie is moderately enjoyable, but it also makes you feel conned: It offers up a disturbing protagonist and then substitutes cuteness for character.
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  2. Variety
    Reviewed by: Todd McCarthy
    60
    Odd mixture of ultra-sleek visuals, psychological probing, "Paper Moon"-like father-daughter swindling, self-improvement efforts and abrupt tough-guy stuff keeps the picture percolating, even if it seems too artificial to genuinely convince on an emotional or dramatic level.
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  3. Newsweek
    Reviewed by: David Ansen
    60
    Scott's finesse can't entirely disguise the mechanical nature of Nicholas and Ted Griffin's script, which has one too many twists for its own good. Fun while it lasts, but it's a bit of a con job itself.
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